Ring plug

ABSTRACT

A ring plug for use in combination with a slotted finger ring display case including a solid, molded plastic body having opposite inclined end surfaces bearing indicia representing the sales status of the ring temporarily represented in the display case by the ring plug.

Unlted States Patent 1191 1111 3,818,621 Hogue et al. June 25, 1974 [54] RING PLUG 1,727,051 2/1925 Longan 35/72 X Inventors: Earl R ogu a m; Ri ard 2,760,287 8/1956 Fekula 40/2 R 3,480,278 11/1969 Conley 273/137 R X 1 2 Redford Town-5111p, both 0207,323 4/1967 Hanna et al 273/137 R x 0 1c [73] Assignee: Rome] Distributors, Inc., Dearbom FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS Heights, Mich 323,054 10/1902 France 35/72 [22] Filed: 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell [21] Appl. No.: 310,745 Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras [52] U.S. Cl. 40/2 R, 40/5 57 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. A44c 3/00 581 Field of Search 40/2, 5, 1, 315; A ""5 fi use W a Slotted 273/137 R 25 35/72 ger r1ng display case mcludmg a Solid, molded plastic body having opposite inclined end surfaces bearing in- [56] References Cited dicia representing the sales status of the ring tempo- UNITED STATES PATENTS rarily represented in the display case by the ring plug. 91,233 6/1869 Hyatt 273/137 R x 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures RING PLUG INTRODUCTION This invention relates to a ring plug for use in combination with a slotted ring display case for the temporary representation of a ring type formerly displayed in the case and for indicating the sales status of that ring type.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Jewelers and other mechandisers often display finger rings in a slotted display case wherein the rings are arranged in a regular order depending on ring type and ring size. When a ring is sold and removed from the display case, it is a common practice for the merchant to make note of this fact so that a similar ring may be reordered at some future date. It is also a common practice to insert some type of plug into the ring slot in the vacated position in the display case to indicate that the ring formerly disposed in that position has been sold rather than merely temporarily removed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The ring plug of the present invention comprises a solid, plastic body which is light in weight, very inexpensive to manufacture, and easily handled for insertion into a slotted ring case for the temporary representation of a ring formerly disposed in the case. In addition, the ring plug of the present invention includes longitudinally opposite and inclined end surfaces bearing respective indicia indicating the status of the ring which is represented by the plug. Typical indicia are SOLD and ORDERED." Other indicia may be employed.

In the preferred embodiment, the body is of an elliptical cross section and the end surfaces are parallel to one another and inclined on an angle of 45 relative to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the body. This provides relatively large area end surfaces for the sales status indicia and also provides a sharp entry edge for insertion of said device into the slotted display case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the device of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 4 is an environmental view of the device of FIG. 1 indicating a typical use thereof in a slotted ring case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. I through 3, there is shown a ring plug of solid, plastic material and having a longitudinal axis of symmetry AA. Ring plug 10 is of a flat elliptical cross section, as shown in FIG. 3, and of approximately the thickness and width of a typical finger ring. Suitable dimensions are approximately 13/ I 6 inch in overall length, I 1/ 16 inch in overall width, and 3/ l6 inch in thickness.

Ring plug 10 is provided with parallel opposite end surfaces 12 and 14 which are flat (planar) and inclined at an angle of 45 relative to the axis of symmetry AA. End surface 12 bears the indicia SOLD" while end surface 14 bears the indicia ORDERED. Ac-

2 cord gly, he ring plug 10 is essentially reversible endfor-end to represent each of two individual sales status situations for the ring represented thereby. Other indicia may, of course, be used.

Inclining the end surfaces 12 and 14 relative to the axis of symmetry AA provides several distinct advantages over the use of flat end surfaces which are perpendicular to the axis of symmetry. The inclined end surfaces 12 and 14 provide substantially increased surface area for the printing or forming of the indicia, thus, improving readability. In addition, the inclined end surfaces are more properly oriented toward the observer when the ring plug 10 is disposed in a display case. Finally, the inclined end surfaces provide sharp entry edges for insertion of the ring plug 10 into a slotted display case, as shown in FIG. 4. In practice, angles of inclination between 30 and have been found suitable.

Looking to FIG. 4, the ring plug 10 is shown disposed in a slotted display case 16 having a felt-lined, slotted base 18. A typical ring 20 is shown disposed in the slotted foundation 18 of the display case 16. The ring plug 10 in the view of FIG. 4 represents a ring which has been removed from the display case because of sale, but which has not yet been reordered by the merchant. Accordingly, the merchant has only to look at the ring plug 10 to know the exact sale status of the ring formerly and typically disposed in that ring display position.

The ring plug 10 may be injection molded of a suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene. Preferably, the sides of the body have a grained surface and the plastic material is mixed with a suitable dye so as to provide a pleasing colored appearance and opaqueness. The indicia may be printed or otherwise formed on the body in such contrasting colors as suits the particular user thereof.

It is to be understood that the ring plug 10 illustrated in the drawings is illustrative in nature and that a number of variations may be made therein. For example, the end surfaces 12 and 14 need not be parallel, but may be inclined in reversely similar directions. In addition, the various proportions as well as the elliptical cross section illustrated herein may be varied as suits the individual user.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A ring plug for insertion into a slotted ring case for temporary representation of a ring formerly disposed in said case comprising: a solid, molded plastic body having a longitudinal axis of symmetry and opposite planar end' surfaces, said body being approximately the thickness and width of a ring, theplanes of said end surfaces being inclined relative to said axis at an angle of between 30 and 60 and indicia on said end surfaces indicating the status of the ring represented by said plug.

2. A ring plug as defined in claim I wherein the body is of flat elliptical configuration in cross section.

3. A ring plug as defined in claim 1 wherein said end surface planes are parallel to one another.

4. A ring plug as defined in claim I wherein said angle is 45.

a: a: a: 

1. A ring plug for insertion into a slotted ring case for temporary representation of a ring formerly disposed in said case comprising: a solid, molded plastic body having a longitudinal axis of symmetry and opposite planar end surfaces, said body being approximately the thickness and width of a ring, the planes of said end surfaces being inclined relative to said axis at an angle of between 30* and 60* , and indicia on said end surfaces indicating the status of the ring represented by said plug.
 2. A ring plug as defined in claim 1 wherein the body is of flat elliptical configuration in cross section.
 3. A ring plug as defined in claim 1 wherein said end surface planes are parallel to one another.
 4. A ring plug as defined in claim 1 wherein said angle is 45*. 